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  Simon handed Willa a plate of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans and then sat on the bed with his own. “We need to know more,” he finished for her.

  “Of course, you do,” Rowan said. “This is absolutely your decision. We are not here to pressure you. We are here to talk, to help.”

  “Do you have more questions we can answer?” Wynter asked.

  “Will we have to leave Twelve Acres, school and all that?” Willa asked, scooping potatoes onto her fork.

  “No, not necessarily,” Wynter answered. “You’ve come to us at an unusual time. There aren’t always Dark witches determined to destroy us.” She put a hand on her scars, a shadow moving over her face. “Most of the time we live fairly normal lives, coming together as witches and covens on a regular basis. Everyone lives their own lives and has their own homes. We’re not asking you to give that up. We’d really just like to add to your lives by giving you knowledge about and control over your gifts and powers. And also offer the support and strength that the covens provide.”

  “However,” Rowan said, “if you did join the covens and we bound a Covenant, life would not be risk free. Even if we are able to defeat Archard, which we plan to, that doesn’t mean there won’t be other Dark threats in the future. Witchcraft at this level is a high stakes game. We command great magic and power, but with that comes greater danger.”

  “What is going to happen with Archard?” Willa asked, a shiver of fear running down her neck.

  “We’ll have to fight him,” Rowan said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Oh, don’t worry; we’re safe for now. The ranch is very well protected, but Archard is a powerful witch. Either he’ll track us down or we will go to him. There are less than two weeks until the blood moon. He’s desperate to bind his Dark Covenant, and he can’t do that with us in the way. He’ll know from looking in your mind Willa that we have all the witches we need to form a Covenant and he will want to stop that. You see, if we bind the Powers, he can’t. Only one Covenant can exist at a time, whether Light or Dark.”

  Another shiver of fear moved through Willa as she looked over at Simon who frowned down at his food. Without looking up, he said, “What’s the blood moon and why is it so important?”

  “It’s the full moon in October,” Rowan explained. “Witches have a name for every full moon. The blood moon is a time of change, or death as the earth prepares for winter, but it is also a time of great power. On this one night, the veil between our world and the Otherworld thins and the magic is powerful enough to bind a Covenant. It cannot be done any other time.”

  “So, it’s a race to the blood moon and we are the best answer to defeating Archard?” Simon said tersely. “That doesn’t sound like giving us much of a choice.”

  Rowan and Wynter looked at each other. Wynter said, “The last time a Dark witch formed a Covenant the world was thrown into the Dark Ages. If Archard is allowed to rule the Powers of the Earth, everyone will suffer. I know that sounds very doomsday-ish, but it’s true. With a Dark witch at the helm, the whole balance of the earth and everything in it will be thrown off. Yes, the best defense against Archard or any dark threat is to Bind a Covenant.”

  “If we bind a Light Covenant,” Rowan added, “then we maintain the balance, even improve it, offering the earth a time of great magic. As well as preventing any witch from forming a Dark Covenant.”

  Willa set down her plate, her stomach now too tight with anxiety to eat. She looked at Simon and hoped he would hear her thoughts. What do we say to that?

  Simon’s eyes widened as he heard. He answered back, mind to mind, Yesterday we didn’t even know we were witches, now they want us to save the freaking world? There’s nothing to say to that.

  Watching them closely, Wynter said, “I know that makes it sound like you don’t actually have a choice, but you still do. We can fight Archard, and defeat him before the blood moon. We don’t have to form a Covenant just because we can. Besides, his covens are now missing two witches. He’s already crippled. It would be a miracle if he found two witches to join him in the next week.”

  “But you’ve been working to form a Covenant for almost fifteen years. Isn’t that what you said, Wynter?” Willa asked.

  Wynter looked down at the quilt, tracing her fingers along the pattern. “Yes. It’s our dream, but we don’t want that dream to be fulfilled at the risk of your wants and dreams.”

  Willa’s shoulders sagged forward, heavy under the burden of the decision before them.

  A moment of silence stretched out between them. “Why don’t you get some sleep?” Wynter said. “Tomorrow we will do a crash course in magic and start your training. After you have a little better feel for the magic and for everyone in the covens, you can make a decision. Sound good?”

  “Okay,” Willa said quietly.

  Wynter gave her a small smile and then she and Rowan moved to the door. Before they left, Simon looked up and asked, “How long would we have to be a part of the Covenant? Could we join just long enough to help stop Archard?”

  “The Covenant is for life,” Rowan said, his head hung low. “It is only broken when a coven-mate dies.”

  Later that night, Willa lay awake, staring at the darkness, listening to Simon breathe. Despite her aching exhaustion, she could not turn off her mind, couldn’t stop thinking about joining the Covenant and worrying about what Archard might be planning. Mostly, she couldn’t stop remembering what it felt like to have him push into her mind and rob her of her thoughts. That sense of violation would never leave her.

  Her phone buzzed from the nightstand and she closed her eyes in annoyance. She didn’t want to worry about her mom, about her attempts to apologize. There were too many more important things to worry about—contemplating forgiveness for a lifetime of betrayal was not one of them.

  With a sigh, Willa lifted the phone and squinted at the bright screen. The text, one of nearly twenty piled in her inbox, read: Please let me know you’re okay! You can be mad, but I need to know you are safe. So does Dad. We love you!

  Willa had sent exactly one text since leaving Twelve Acres. She sent it as soon as they arrived at Wynter’s cottage and all it said was: We are there. As mad as she was, she didn’t want her parents wondering if she was alive or dead. So, she entered a reply: I’m fine. I’m safe.

  Her thumb hovered over the send button. She thought of telling her mom they had moved on from Wynter’s to the ranch, but knew it would take far more explanation than she had energy for, and would also just increase her parents’ panic.

  She pushed send, put the phone back and rolled over.

  Chapter 21

  Waxing Crescent

  Present Day, October

  Wynter and Rowan stood off to the side near the edge of the yard while Simon and Willa attempted to learn how to lift and move an object with magic. Wynter smiled when Simon succeeded after the second try.

  “I feel awful,” she said to Rowan.

  “Why?” he asked. His beard had a bit of dust in it and his ponytail was slightly askew from an earlier attempt to help Willa blow away a pile of leaves by controlling the air. There were scraps of leaves on his black tunic shirt and linen pants.

  Wynter brushed at the leaves on his shirt. “Because we’ve placed them in an impossible position. By helping me, they are now in grave danger, and their lives will never be the same.”

  “Yes, but they have also discovered who they really are. That’s priceless, and I think they understand that. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made of an old life to live a better one.”

  “But is it really better? Being the target of Archard’s anger? I know that hasn’t been very good for us.” Wynter pulled at the long sleeve of her green jersey dress.

  Rowan reached out, took her arm and kissed the back of her hand where the oldest scars were. “We knew there would be sacrifices. And the rewards may still prove to be very sweet. Look at those two. Have you ever seen an undiscovered witch, especially one already into adulthood
, pick up the magic so quickly? And Simon—he’s incredibly powerful.”

  Wynter watched Willa levitate several pieces of firewood and move them across the yard, her face red with concentration. When she set them down on the target spot, the group erupted in cheers.

  Wynter smiled. “No, I haven’t.”

  “They are meant to be with us. The magic knows that, and soon they will, too.”

  Willa accepted the high fives and congratulations from the other witches. All morning, she and Simon had been testing out the magic, forming basic skills. At first she’d been so nervous, but soon, with the help of the others, she’d grown comfortable, even started to enjoy it. Simon on the other hand, though doing incredibly well, had been quiet and withdrawn all morning. Lost inside his head, thinking things out.

  After talking with Wynter and Rowan last night, she and Simon had crawled into bed and said little about what they’d learned. They were exhausted, having only slept a few hours in the last two days. Simon said they could talk about what to do after some good sleep and training. But while she was feeling much better about things, Simon didn’t appear to be.

  Charlotte, the other Mind, came running over, her long braid bouncing behind her. “Willa! That was awesome. You are doing so well.”

  Willa smiled shyly. Charlotte was being especially attentive and helpful, and Willa liked her. She reminded her of Solace. “Thanks, Charlotte.”

  “How many times do I have to tell you, call me Char. Everyone does and it’s much easier to say than Char-o-let-te,” she said, dragging out the syllables of her name.

  “Okay. Thanks, Char.”

  “Much better. Now, how about a drink break? You and Simon come with me and Elliot back in the kitchen for some water. Elliot wants to talk to you about dreams and I can ask Simon about his mind.” On cue, Elliot arrived with Simon at his side, after which Char proceeded to lead them into the kitchen.

  Darby was there, pouring them all tall glasses of water. She set a plate of chocolate chip cookies on the table. “Cookies are health food around here, so eat up.” Then, she slipped outside, leaving the two couples in peace.

  Willa gulped down half her water and began nibbling a cookie. Simon pulled two cookies from the plate.

  “Okay,” Char said. She and Elliot sat across the table. “Go ahead, Elliot.”

  Elliot smiled, his teeth extra white against his dark skin. “Willa, from what Wynter has told me, it sounds like you are a very proficient Dreamer, so I don’t think there is much I can help you with except for a Dream Cradle.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small blue pouch, which he placed on the table in front of her.

  The pouch was made of a soft velvety material and on it was inked the symbol of a single eye looking to the side. Willa ran her finger over the symbol, the fabric warm to the touch. “What does it do?” she asked.

  “It records all your dreams.”

  She looked up, surprised. “Records them?”

  “Yep. Open it,” Elliot instructed.

  Willa tugged open the purse strings and carefully tipped the contents out on the table. A milky white, oval shaped stone slid toward her, followed by two sprigs of fresh lavender.

  Pointing at the stone, Elliot said, “That’s a moonstone. It will record and hold your dreams. It’s powered by the herbs and a spell. Keep the Cradle by your bed, and before you go to sleep say this spell: Dream Cradle, take this dream of mine. Moonstone, hold it until the right time.” Elliot took a cookie. “Sometimes the hardest part about dreams is remembering all the details, all the little things that could mean something big. Right?”

  Willa nodded. “Yes, definitely.”

  “That’s where the Dream Cradle comes in. It keeps everything safe, and when you need to remember something, you can view the whole dream by using another spell: Dream Cradle, reveal your nighttime keep. Moonstone, reveal what you hold deep.” Elliot reached into his other pocket. “Here, I wrote them down for you.” He handed her a folded and slightly smashed piece of paper.

  “Thanks, Elliot.” Willa tucked the stone, herbs, and spells back in the pouch, imagining what might happen when she wanted to look at one of her dreams.

  Charlotte turned her attention to Simon. “So do you have any questions about being a Mind? Wynter said she already gave you the mind-lock spell.”

  “Right, and I can tell it’s working. I don’t feel nearly as many emotions and feelings as I normally do.”

  “That’s good. The best thing to do is practice opening and closing that door. Sometimes you do want to know what others are feeling and thinking. Like in a fight against a Dark witch. It’s pretty handy to open that door just enough to get a feel for what he might do. But you don’t want him pushing in on your mind, so you have to be good at quickly closing it or only leaving it open a little. Does that make any sense?”

  Simon nodded, “I think so.”

  “Try it now. Close your eyes and picture your door.” Char waited while Simon complied. “Now, I want you to crack the door open just a little and see if you can sense how many people are still outside.”

  Willa watched Simon’s face harden in concentration. This morning he’d been reluctant to try different things with the magic, but now he was more willing. After a few seconds he said, “There are . . . five people.”

  “Good. Can you tell who? That’s a lot harder, especially since you don’t know us that well yet,” Char said.

  Simon squeezed his eyes tighter. “It’s . . . Wynter, Rowan . . . Darby . . . Hazel and . . . Rain, I think.”

  “Whoa! Very nice, Simon. Okay, let’s try this. Can you tell me where the others are?” Char leaned forward, watching Simon closely.

  The air around Simon stirred and grew slightly warmer. Willa waited, wondering if he could do it. “Umm . . . Cal is somewhere with horses. Toby and Corbin are in the front of the house. And . . . we are all right here.” Simon exhaled and opened his eyes. “Is that right?”

  Char raised her hand. “High five! That’s incredible. You shouldn’t be able to do that for like a year.”

  Simon returned her high five and blushed. “I didn’t realize I could do that. I mean, I can always sense Willa, but I’d never tried to find anyone else.”

  Willa smiled. “Pretty cool. Good job.”

  Darby burst back into the room. “Okay, kids, time to play with fire. First one to get burned loses.” She grinned and wagged her eyebrows.

  Willa turned to Simon. “Fire? Really?”

  He shrugged. “I guess we’ll give it a try.” He leaned closer, “And if you get burned, I can always heal you.” He smiled and Willa laughed, happy to see him letting go of some of the seriousness that had plagued him earlier.

  “Well, that’s very lucky ‘cause I have a bad feeling about playing with fire. I was afraid of fireworks until I was like fifteen,” Willa said.

  Simon laughed, kissed her quickly and pulled her to her feet.

  Late that night Simon crawled in bed next to Willa. Her shower-wet hair smelled like lavender and citrus, her skin glowed pink. He couldn’t resist reaching down to run his hand over the soft skin on her legs. She smiled sleepily up at him. “What are you thinking?” she asked.

  “All kinds of things,” he raised his eyebrows at her playfully.

  She laughed loudly and he drank in the happy sound. “That’s not what I meant!”

  He leaned down to kiss a sliver of bare skin at her waist, where her tank-top had lifted slightly. He closed his eyes when she sighed. “Suddenly, I’m not very tired,” he said into her skin.

  She laughed again and tugged on his arm. He reluctantly relented and lay down next to her, pulling her close, nuzzling his face into her divinely scented neck. “But you smell so good.”

  “I want to hear how you feel about today. What you’re thinking about the magic and everything,” she said.

  Simon sighed and pulled his face out of her neck. “How I feel about today, huh? Well, I feel . . . tired. They worked us really hard.�
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  She gently slapped his arm. “You know that’s not what I mean.”

  Simon smiled. “Yeah, sorry.” He narrowed his eyes in thought, trying to decide exactly how he felt. “I’ve never felt like that before.”

  “What do you mean?” Willa shifted her head and concentrated on his face.

  “I guess, like I belonged. You know? I didn’t expect that.”

  She nodded. “Yeah.”

  “And I liked that feeling.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Does that mean I think we should up and join their Covenant?” He pushed a hand back through his hair. “I don’t know.”

  “I don’t know either. I go back and forth in my mind. It’s hard to get past that for life thing Rowan said last night.” Willa’s hand found his face and ran her fingers over the two-day stubble he’d been too lazy to shave off. He closed his eyes at her warm touch.

  “That is definitely hard to swallow,” he said. “I like these people and I find myself trusting them. And I love how it feels to control the magic. I think I’ve been looking for that feeling my whole life.”

  “Me, too. We are witches, Simon. Have you said it out loud yet? It’s a strange sensation.”

  He smiled. “We are witches. We are witches.” A curl of heat moved over their heads. “Okay, that is a weird sensation.”

  “And we can do magic.”

  “And we can do magic.” Simon exhaled. “Very surreal.”

  “Very.”

  “I suppose we still have a couple of days before we need to decide.”

  “Yeah, a little more time with the magic might help make things clearer.” Willa dropped her hand to his chest. “I hope, anyway.”

  “Yeah, but I don’t know if I can get past the thing with Archard. He already hurt you once. I don’t really want to willingly step into a fight with him.” Simon pulled her closer.

  Willa shivered. “I agree. Having him in my head was bad enough. I can’t imagine meeting that awful man in person.”